This book presents an alternative to both the Protestant view of baptism being a mere sign or symbol of salvation already completed, and to the Catholic view that baptism alone is what saves you. Cotrell does a fantastic job of concisely going through all the Scriptures in question, and of trying to be as objective as possible. Obviously he has come to his own beliefs on the matter, and they emerge throughout the book, but I would contest that it is a case made entirely from Scripture and not from traditions or preconceptions. I would highly recommend this book to any Christian who is serious about taking Scriptures to mean what they say.